What BALLISTOL does

BALLISTOL GmbH is a privately held German family business founded in 1904, headquartered in Aham, Bavaria. The company manufactures and distributes care, protection, and cleaning products organized into three product worlds: Human (skin care, insect repellents, household remedies), Animal (pet and horse care), and Technology/All Things Mechanical (workshop, bike, weapon, and food-industry maintenance). Its flagship product, Ballistol Universal Oil, has been produced under an unchanged recipe since 1904 using medical-purity base oils, free from chlorinated hydrocarbons, animal substances, silicone, PTFE, acid, and resin, and is fully biodegradable, food-safe, and skin-compatible.

The underlying technology is a proprietary chemical formulation rather than a software or digital platform. Key technical differentiators include the multi-functional Universal Oil (lubrication, corrosion protection, disinfection, skin compatibility), an IR 3535-based DEET-free insect repellent line endorsed by WHO and the French Ministry of Health for use on children from 2 months, a VarioFlex flexible spray nozzle, and NSF H1 food-grade lubricant certification. Supporting regulatory credentials include ISO 9001:2015, Dermatest "very good" dermatological ratings across the portfolio, LFGB/Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 food-safety compliance, and EU Detergent Regulation 648/2004.

BALLISTOL generates revenue primarily through one-time consumer product sales across a broad SKU range (€0.65 sachets to €154.90 5L canisters) with secondary revenue from contract filling services. Distribution is multi-channel: direct e-commerce at ballistol.de, regional websites for USA/UK/Thailand, pharmacies, specialist hunting/fishing/outdoor retailers, wholesalers, and the in-house F.W. KLEVER GmbH manufacturing arm. Customer segments span individual consumers (primary), pet/animal owners, professional/trade workshops, and food and beverage industry operators. The company also holds sub-brands including Stingfree, Neo-Ballistol, Mairol (fertilizer), Scherells SCHAFTOL, and JW-Waffenpflege.

Name

BALLISTOL

Legal name

BALLISTOL GmbH

Website

https://ballistol.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1904

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

BALLISTOL GmbH is a 120-year-old German family-owned manufacturer of care, protection, and cleaning products for people, animals, and technology, anchored by its flagship multi-purpose Universal Oil. It sells through pharmacies, specialty retailers, wholesalers, and direct e-commerce across Germany, Austria, USA, UK, and Thailand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Lubricants and Care Products

akta.pro primary industry

Insect & Pest Control (Indoor/Outdoor Insecticides, Repellents, Traps) (CRADAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wood Treatment & Specialty Preservatives (IMAEABAO), Botanical & Essential-Oil-Based Treatments (HSAMALAA), Preservatives & Antimicrobials (Sorbates, Benzoates, Natamycin, Cultured Dextrose) (CRADAOAF)

Keywords

• Multi-purpose oils
• Insect repellents
• Household remedies
• Animal care products
• Industrial lubricants

Headquarters

HQ city

Aham

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Consumer Product Sales: BALLISTOL generates revenue through sale of multi-purpose oils, insect repellents (Sting-Free line), household remedies (Neo-Ballistol), animal care products, and technology/cleaning products. Products sold in various sizes from travel-friendly 10ml to industrial 5L containers. One-time purchase model with repeat customer base.
2. Contract Filling Services: BALLISTOL offers contract filling services - from development to production to filling, serving as a reliable partner for other companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BALLISTOL manufactures and supplies the Ballistol Universal Oil, a multi-purpose oil developed in 1904 using an unchanged recipe, for care, protection, cleaning, and lubrication of wood, leather, metal, and other materials. The portfolio extends to DEET-free insect repellents (Sting-Free / Stichfrei line), the Neo-Ballistol home remedy, animal care products for pets and horses, and a Technology range including resin remover, universal cleaner, glass cleaner, weapon care, and bike care products. Products are sold in sizes from 10 ml travel units to 5 L industrial canisters.

Product overview

BALLISTOL is a German brand manufacturer offering a diversified portfolio of care, protection, and cleaning products organized into three main categories: Human (people), Animal, and Technology (mechanical). The core product is Ballistol Universal Oil, a multi-purpose oil developed in 1904, which is biodegradable, food-safe, and used for care, protection, cleaning, and lubrication across various materials. The Human product line includes Sting-Free insect repellents (DEET-free, using Icaridin or IR 3535) and Neo-Ballistol Household Remedy. The Animal line offers care products for pets and horses. The Technology line includes specialized cleaners (resin remover, universal cleaner, glass cleaner, rim cleaner), bike care, weapon care products, and accessories like dispenser boxes and sprayers. Additional brands under the portfolio include Mairol (fertilizer) and Scherells SCHAFTOL (wood care). The company operates contract filling services from development to production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stingfree (Stichfrei): Insect repellent product line for protection against mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects, featuring products like Stingfree Classic, Stingfree Kids, Stingfree Sensitive, and Stingfree Tropical.
• Neo-Ballistol Household Remedy
• Mairol
• Scherell's SCHAFTOL
• JW-Waffenpflege

Products and services

• Ballistol Universal Oil Multi-purpose oil developed in 1904 for care, protection, cleaning, and lubrication of wood, leather, metal, and other materials. Biodegradable, food-safe, skin-friendly, and disinfectant; sold in spray and liquid formats from 10 ml travel units to 5 L canisters.
• Sting-Free (Stichfrei) Insect Repellents Mosquito and tick repellent product line for people, including Classic, Kids & Family, Sensitive, Tropical, and Tick variants. DEET-free formulas using Icaridin or WHO-recommended IR 3535, suitable for children from 2 months and pregnant women.
• Neo-Ballistol Household Remedy Traditional home remedy containing natural ingredients and medically pure white mineral oil for body care, massage, wound aftercare, and skin regeneration. Registered remedy in Switzerland; dermatologist-rated 'very good'.
• Ballistol Animal Care Line Care and protection products for dogs, horses, cats, and small animals, including animal care oil and horse shampoo.
• Stingfree Animal Insect repellent products specifically formulated for animals.
• Resin Remover Biodegradable, PTFE- and silicone-free cleaning product that dissolves burnt-on resin residues from saw blades, planers, and chainsaws. Available in pump spray and 5 L canister formats.
• Universal & Plastic Cleaner Surface cleaner for cars, households, and businesses that dissolves soot, grease, oil, nicotine, and insect residues with antistatic and dust-repellent effect.
• Weapon Care Products Specialized care products and accessories for weapon maintenance including felt-patch-tow and cleaning accessories.
• Bike Care Products Products for bicycle cleaning, lubrication, and maintenance.
• Defence Sprays Personal defence spray products sold through the BALLISTOL portfolio.
• Glass Cleaner Window and glass cleaning product within the BALLISTOL cleaner line, compliant with EU Detergent Regulation 648/2004.
• Rim Cleaner Cleaning product specifically designed for vehicle wheel rims, compliant with EU Detergent Regulation 648/2004.
• Barbecue Cleaner Specialized cleaner for barbecue equipment within the BALLISTOL cleaner line.
• Ballistol Sprayer (Hand Sprayer) Hand sprayer accessory compatible with all 500 ml BALLISTOL cans, with adjustable nozzle from mist to jet.
• Stichfrei Cooling Roll-On Immediate-relief roll-on product for insect bites and stings, containing Roman chamomile, plantain, and thyme extracts with a cooling effect for itch relief.
• Dispenser Box with Dry Cloths Refillable dispenser box containing 130 dry cloths designed to be filled with BALLISTOL oils and cleaners for precision mechanics cleaning, weapon care, and surface cleaning.
• Ballistol H1 Special Oil Food-grade lubricant holding NSF H1 approval for use in food processing environments where incidental product contact may occur.
• Contract Filling Services B2B contract filling service — from development to production to filling — offered via F.W. KLEVER GmbH, serving as a manufacturing partner for other companies.
• Mairol Premium Fertilizer Premium fertilizer brand within the BALLISTOL product portfolio.
• Scherells SCHAFTOL (Weapon Care Brand) Weapon care sub-brand within the BALLISTOL portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• A landscape gardener from Bavaria reduced tool wear by 20% using Ballistol Universal Oil while minimizing environmental impact
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• F.W. KLEVER GmbHcoreOthersF.W. KLEVER GmbH is the manufacturer of Ballistol products, located at Hauptstraße 20, D-84168 Aham, Germany. They are also the entity behind contract filling services offered by BALLISTOL. This appears to be the parent manufacturing company for the Ballistol brand.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WD-40 Company: Multi-purpose lubricant manufacturer whose flagship WD-40 product competes directly with Ballistol Universal Oil in penetrating, lubricating, and protective use cases. Closest like-for-like competitor in the consumer specialty lubricant category.
• 3-IN-ONE Oil: Iconic multi-purpose household oil brand owned by WD-40 Company that competes in the same drip-oil and lubricant niche as Ballistol Universal Oil. Compares on size, format (small bottles), and DIY/tool-care customer base.
• CRC Industries: Manufacturer of specialty cleaners, lubricants, and maintenance products serving automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Directly comparable product mix (lubricants, penetrants, cleaners) overlapping with Ballistol's Technology and resin-remover lines.
• Autan (Repel Care / SC Johnson): Leading insect repellent brand in Germany and Europe, operating in the same mosquito/tick protection category as Ballistol's Sting-Free line. Compares on pharmacy-channel distribution, family variants, and outdoor recreation use cases.
• OFF! (SC Johnson): Mass-market DEET and DEET-free insect repellent brand with global distribution overlapping with Ballistol Sting-Free. Comparable on consumer purchase channels (retail, e-commerce) and active-ingredient positioning.
• Sawyer Products: Premium outdoor insect repellent and sun protection brand offering DEET-free formulations. Comparable to Sting-Free on outdoor enthusiast targeting, premium pricing, and DEET-free active ingredient positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Fuchs Lubricants: Large German-headquartered specialty lubricants manufacturer serving industrial and consumer markets with a much broader portfolio than Ballistol. Relevant as a regional incumbent in the same specialty chemicals space.
• Henkel: Global German consumer chemicals company with diversified portfolio across laundry, home care, cosmetics, and adhesives. Compares on consumer brand-building in DACH and on overlapping cleaning-product adjacent categories.
• Beiersdorf: German personal care company (NIVEA, Eucerin) with strong dermatological testing heritage. Comparable on Dermatest-style clinical validation, pharmacy distribution, and skin-friendly product positioning relevant to Neo-Ballistol.

Emerging players

• Insect Shield: US-based insect-repellent technology company focused on permethrin-treated apparel and gear for outdoor use. Comparable to Sting-Free on the DEET-free outdoor protection value proposition, though with a technology-differentiation rather than formulation approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BALLISTOLKLEVER
• Facebookfacebook.com/ballistol
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ballistol
• Instagraminstagram.com/ballistol_de

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BALLISTOL